Which Turkish regulation corresponds to the ATEX product directive 2014/34/EU?
Abstract
The Regulation on Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (2014/34/AB), Official Gazette No. 29758 of 30 June 2016, amended 2020. It mirrors the directive: same categories, procedures, CE marking; instructions in Turkish.
In Türkiye, Directive 2014/34/EU corresponds to the Regulation on Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (Muhtemel Patlayıcı Ortamda Kullanılan Teçhizat ve Koruyucu Sistemler ile İlgili Yönetmelik (2014/34/AB)). It was published in the Official Gazette (Resmî Gazete) No. 29758 on 30 June 2016 and amended on 27 June 2020 (No. 31168). It transposes the directive almost word for word: the same scope, equipment groups and categories, essential requirements, conformity assessment procedures and CE marking. In addition, instructions and safety information must be supplied in Turkish.
Short answer
- Name and reference: regulation "2014/34/AB", Official Gazette 30 June 2016, No. 29758, in force on the day of publication.
- Amendment: Official Gazette 27 June 2020, No. 31168 (two scope exclusions, legal basis, ministry name, definitions, the marking clause of the essential requirements, terminology).
- Responsible ministry: today the Ministry of Industry and Technology (Sanayi ve Teknoloji Bakanlığı).
- EU link: Article 41 states that the regulation was prepared to align with Directive 2014/34/EU.
- Replaced: the earlier regulation based on Directive 94/9/EC, Official Gazette 30 December 2006, No. 26392 (Article 42).
- Turkish-specific duties: instructions and safety information in Turkish, and a Turkish translation added to a declaration of conformity drawn up in another language.
How the Turkish regulation maps onto the directive
| Topic | Directive 2014/34/EU | Turkish regulation (2014/34/AB) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and exclusions | Article 1 | Article 2 (same products and exclusions) |
| Essential health and safety requirements | Annex II | Annex 2 (Ek-2) |
| Conformity assessment procedures | Article 13 | Article 15 |
| EU declaration of conformity | Article 14, Annex X | Article 16, Annex 10; Turkish translation required if drawn up in another language |
| CE marking and notified body number | Articles 15 and 16 | Articles 17 and 18 |
| Notified bodies (onaylanmış kuruluş) | Articles 17 to 33 | Article 19 onwards: the ministry notifies Turkish bodies, through the Ministry of Trade, to the Commission and EU member states |
| Language of instructions | Language set by each member state | Turkish (Article 8(8) for manufacturers, Article 10(4) for importers) |
The conformity procedures are the same as in the directive. Category 1 and M1 equipment needs EU-type examination plus production quality assurance or product verification. Category 2 and M2 electrical equipment and internal combustion engines need EU-type examination plus supervised product testing or product quality assurance. Other category 2 equipment uses internal production control, with the technical file lodged with a notified body. Category 3 uses internal production control. Unit verification is possible for every category. The documents carry the same EU names: the EU declaration of conformity (AB uygunluk beyanı) and the certificate issued after EU-type examination (AB tip incelemesi).
What it means for manufacturers, importers and buyers
One conformity assessment serves both markets. Because the Turkish text follows the directive and Türkiye is in a customs union with the EU, CE-marked ATEX equipment from the EU is placed on the Turkish market on the same basis. The European Commission's ATEX Guidelines name Türkiye, under the Customs Union, among the territories where the directive applies, with Turkish as the required language. Under Article 19 of the regulation, the ministry notifies Turkish conformity assessment bodies to the European Commission and the EU member states.
Language is the usual gap. The regulation requires manufacturers and importers to make sure that the instructions and safety information accompanying the product are in Turkish. Distributors must check before selling that the instructions and safety information are supplied (Article 11). A product with only English or German instructions does not meet the regulation, even if it is fully certified.
Importers have their own duties. As in the directive, the importer checks that the conformity assessment was done, that the CE marking and documents are present, and puts its own name and address on the product, its packaging or an accompanying document.
Example: A Turkish distributor imports flameproof junction boxes from an EU manufacturer. The boxes carry CE 1234 II 2 G Ex db IIC T6 Gb and come with an EU declaration of conformity in English. Before selling, the distributor makes sure that a Turkish translation of the declaration and Turkish instructions accompany each delivery. The importer's name and address are added on the packaging. No new certificate is needed.
The workplace side is a different regulation
The 2014/34/AB regulation covers products only. The employer's duties (risk assessment, zone classification, the explosion protection document) come from a separate regulation that corresponds to Directive 1999/92/EC: the Regulation on the Protection of Workers from the Hazards of Explosive Atmospheres (Çalışanların Patlayıcı Ortamların Tehlikelerinden Korunması Hakkında Yönetmelik), Official Gazette No. 28633 of 30 April 2013, issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The legal basis of the product regulation, Law No. 4703, was repealed by the Law on Product Safety and Technical Regulations (Ürün Güvenliği ve Teknik Düzenlemeler Kanunu), No. 7223, which took effect one year after its publication on 12 March 2020. Under that law, references to Law No. 4703 are read as references to Law No. 7223.
Related on excodex
- ATEX explained: the two EU directives 2014/34/EU and 1999/92/EC in plain language
- EU-Type Examination Certificates and Notified Bodies explained
- What is the Turkish equivalent of the ATEX directives?
- Are ATEX certificates from Turkish notified bodies valid in the EU?
- Standards spaces: Turkish explosive atmosphere regulations, ATEX 2014/34/EU
Standards and further reading
- Muhtemel Patlayıcı Ortamda Kullanılan Teçhizat ve Koruyucu Sistemler ile İlgili Yönetmelik (2014/34/AB), Resmî Gazete No. 29758, 30 June 2016: resmigazete.gov.tr
- Amending regulation, Resmî Gazete No. 31168, 27 June 2020: resmigazete.gov.tr
- Law No. 7223 on Product Safety and Technical Regulations, Resmî Gazete 12 March 2020: resmigazete.gov.tr
- Çalışanların Patlayıcı Ortamların Tehlikelerinden Korunması Hakkında Yönetmelik, Resmî Gazete No. 28633, 30 April 2013: resmigazete.gov.tr
- Directive 2014/34/EU, Article 13 (conformity assessment procedures): legislation.gov.uk
- European Commission, ATEX 2014/34/EU Guidelines, 6th edition (January 2026): Guidelines PDF
This article is general technical information prepared by the excodex editorial team. It does not replace the applicable standards, the equipment certificates and instructions, national regulations or the assessment of a competent person.